Carbureter



No. 625,294. Patented May I6, I899. W. J. EGAN.

CABB URETER.

(Application filed Mar. 4, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Inventor.

Wit es es.

Attorney.

THE uonms PETERS co. mmo-Lwna. wAsnmm'ON, n. c.

NHED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM J. EGAN, OF MILWAUKEE, \VISCONSIN.

CARBURETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,294, dated May 16, 1899.

Application filed March 4, 1898. Serial No. 672,610. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM J. EGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Carbureting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in carbureting apparatus.

The chief objections heretofore raised to machines or apparatus of this class are found in the fact that as heretofore constructed they have been considered to so increase the danger from fire that insurance companies have refused to insure property containing the same; also, in the fact that it has heretofore appeared impossible to produce an automatic apparatus which is capable of regularly producing a gas of uniform quality and pressure without being at the same time too complicated to be durable or reliable and too expensive for practical use.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine or apparatus which is simple in its construction and both reliable and safe in its operation and by means of which a gaseous product may be obtained of uniform quality and pressure.

In the following description reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, showing the various chambers, partly in section, to disclose the interior construction. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the inlet and exhaust valve of the lifting-jack. Fig. 3 is a section view of the same.

Like parts are identified by the same referonce-figures throughout the several views.

1 is a supporting-stand, upon which I have located water-tan ks 2 and 3, preferably cylindrical in form and provided, respectively, with reciprocating air chambers 4 and 5, which are open at their lower ends and so arranged that their lower edges will be submerged-or sealed in the water of their respective tanks at all times.

The chamber a is secured to the upper end of a piston-rod 6 of a hydraulic lifting-jack 7 and is provided with a metallic block or weight 8, which tends to drive the chamber downwardly into the water of the tank 2 when not supported or lifted by the liquid in the jack.

It will be observed that the piston-rod of the jack enters the tank 2 through a tubular opening 10, which extends upwardly in the tank to a point above the water-line, thus preventing any'leakage of the tank-water and furnishing guide-bearings 11 for the pistonrod. The tank3 is provided with a similar opening, as hereinafter explained, and the chambers 4 and 5 are also provided with depending tubes 4 and 5, which cover the tubular openings in the tanks and prevent the air of the chambers from escaping therethrough, this construction being especially important in the construction of the chamber 5.

For admitting air to the chamber 4 during its upward movement I have provided an airinlet pipe 12, which extends upwardly through the bottom of the tank 2 to a point above the water-line. This pipe is provided with a check-valve 13, which admits air to the pipe and chamber during the upward movement of the latter. During the return movement of the chamber the air is expelled through the pipe 12, check 14:, and pipe 15, which latter pipe leads upwardly through the bottom of the tank 3 to a point within the air-chamber 5 above the water-line. It is therefore obvious that during the return movement of the tank etthe air therein will be. driven into the tank 5 to raise the latter.

The valve mechanism of the lifting-jack is operated from the air-chamber 5. This chainber is provided with a depending valve-controlling rod 16, which extends downwardly in the central tubular opening 17 through the bottom of the tank 3 and is coupled loosely to a valve-lever 18, the latter being pivotally secured to the valve-stem 19 and adapted to engage underneath a shoulder 20 on a pivotally-supported bracket 21, supported from the cylinder of the jack, which shoulder serves as a fulcrum for the lever.

22 is an ad j usting-screw for regulating the engagement of the lever under the shoulder 20. The inlet-valve 23 and exhaust-valve 24 are both located in a vertically-disposed casing, which is attached to the side of the jackcylinder and provided with a port 25, communicating therewith at its lower end, the construction and relation of the valves being similar to that described in a former patent, No. 537,819, granted to me on the 23d day of April, 1895. The valve-stem 19 is normally held in a raised position, with the inlet-port closed and exhaust open, by means of a spring 26. The downward movement of the chamber 5 depresses the valve-stem 19 against the resistance of the spring 26 through the medium of the rod 16 and lever 18, and when such movement is partially completed the stem is depressed sufficiently to close the eX- haust-valve and open the inlet, thus permitting the power-water to enter the lifting-jack underneath the piston 9 and elevate the chamber 4. The continued downward movement of the chamber 5 depresses the lever 18 sufliciently to withdraw its short end from en gagement with the shoulder 20, when the valve-stem is returned to its normal position by the reaction of the spring 26, thus opening the exhaust and permitting the inletvalve to close with the pressure of the supply-water. The weighted chamber 4 then descends by gravity and refills the chamber 5, as heretofore explained. As the chamber 5 is raised the short end of the lever 18 is reengaged under the shoulder 20, the bracket 21 being permitted to move sufficiently on its pivot to permit the end of the lever to pass. During the downward movement of the chamber 5 the air therein is driven through a generator or carbureting-chamber 27 into a gassupply pipe 28, leading-to the place or places of use. The generator is preferably located within the chamber 5 and partially submerged in the water of the tank 3. It is constructed with a large number of small air-ducts 29, leading from the upper surface of the chamber 27 to a point underneath the surface of the gasolene or carbureting liquid in the chamber, the supply of liquid being shallow and maintained at about the same level as hereinafter explained. The air being thus thoroughly subdivided and driven through the gasolene in numerous small jets, it becomes immediately charged with the gasolene product of the latter, and the gaseous mixture thus produced is expelled from the upper portion of the carbureting-chamber 27 through the gas-supply pipe 28 under the continuous pressure of the air in the tank 5.

In order to maintain the supply of carbureting liquid in the generator, I have provided for recharging the latter from a storage-tank 30. Apump-cylinder 31 is provided with pistons 32 and 33,connected together bya rod 34, which extends into a smaller spring inclosing cylinder 35 and is provided with an adjustable head or nut 36, which engages a retracting-spring 37 between it and the end of the cylinder. The pistons are held normally at or near the power end of the pump-cylinder 31 by means of the spring 37 and are driven by the power-water toward the suction end of the cylinder, thus compressing the spring between the head 36 and the end of the cylinder. The power-water enters through a pipe 38, which communicates between the lower end of the cylinder of the jack 7 and the power end of the pump-cylinder 31. When the water exhausts from the jack, it also exhausts from the pump-cylinder through the pipe 38, and the pistons are then retracted by the spring 37 to draw in gasolene from the tank 30 through a pipe 39 and check-valve 40. The pistons being again driven forward by the power-water, the gasolene in the cylinder is forced into the carbureter through the valve 41 and pipe 42. In order to provide for the removal of any gasolene or water which may escape past the pistons, I have provided a Waste-pipe 43, which communicates from the cylinder 31, intermediate of the pistons, to the sewer or any other suitable point of discharge.

To prevent the generator from becoming overcharged, I have provided the same with an overflow-pipe 44, which projects upwardly from the bottom of the generator to the height at which it is desired to maintain the liquid and communicates with the suction-pipe 39 of the pump at a point 45 sufliciently distant from the storage-tank to prevent the overflow from mingling materially with the contents of the latter.

As the overflow from the generator is somewhat deteriorated in quality through the evaporations of the lighter portions thereof, I regard the connection of the pipe 44 with the suction-pipe 39 as of great importance in maintaining a uniform quality of gasolene in the generator. If this pipe is connected with the storage-tank, the supply of gasolene therein deteriorates in quality, while with the construction described all liquid drawn from the storage-tank is of the original grade, and the supply in the generator is therefore kept at a uniform grade, as the latter contains but a small quantity of the liquid at any given time.

It will be observed thatIhave provided the tanks 2 and 3 with a connecting-pipe 46 at the water-line, with a branch 47 leading to the waste-pipe 48 of the jack 7. As the leakage of the jack escapes into thetank 2, it is expedient to provide such pipes in order that both tanks will be supplied therefrom and their overflow prevented.

Briefly reviewing the operation of my machine, it will be observed that after being once started its operation is entirely automatic. The downward movement of the chamber 5 as the air therein is expelled through the generator is communicated to the valve mechanism of the jack 7 through the rod 16 to admit the power liquid to the jack and elevate the chamber 4, the latter drawing in a charge of air through the valve 13. The chamber 4 remains in its raised position until the continued downward movement of the chamber 5 releases the lever 18 from the shoulder 20, when the spring 26 by closing the inlet and opening the exhaust valves of the jack permits the weighted tank 4 to return by gravity to its normal position and drive the air contained therein into the chamber 5 to again raise the latter. At the same time that the tank 4 is raised by the power-water in the jack to draw in a fresh supply of air the water enters the pump-cylinder 31 from the supplyin the jack and forces a new charge of gasolene into the generator. The use of the overflow-pipe 4:47, connected with the suction-pipe of the pump 31, enables me to dispense with the nice adjustments of the parts, as it is impossible to overcharge the generator with this construction.

It will be observed that the generator and gasolene-pump are entirely sealed and have no communication with the outside atmosphere, and there is no possibility of the escape of anyof the gasolene or its vapor. The generator being partially submerged in the water of the tank 3, the temperature of the gasolene is not subject to the extreme variation in the temperature of the atmosphere, and the air which is passed through it is equalized in temperature by the water of the tanks.

The storage-tank may of course be located at any convenient point distant from the remainder of the machine, being preferably buried in the ground exterior to the building in which the machine is located.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a reciprocating air supported and actuated chamber arranged to exert a continuous pres sure upon the air therein, a generator located in said chamber and in communication therewith, a gas-supply pipe leading from the generator, and means for automatically maintaininga supply of air in said chamber, whereby the pressure of said chamber expels the air continuously through the generator at a uniform pressure.

2. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a reciprocating air supported and actuated chamber, arranged to exert a continuous pressure upon the air therein, a generator located in said chamber and in communication therewith, means for automatically recharging the generator with liquid hydrocarbon, a gassupply pipe leading from the generator, and means controlled by the air-supported chamber for automatically maintaining a supply of air in said chamber, whereby the pressure of said chamber eXpels the air continuously through the generator at a uniform pressure.

3. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a water-tank, a reciprocating air supported and actuated chamber open at bottom and sealed in the water of said tank and arranged to exert a continuous pressure upon the air therein, a generator located in said chamber in communication therewith and partially submerged in the water of said tank, a gas-supply pipe leading from the generator, and means controlled by said air-supported chamber for antomatically maintaining a supply of air in said chamber whereby the pressure of said chamber expels the air continuously through the generator at a uniform pressure.

' 4. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a reciprocating air supported and actuated chamber arranged to exert a continuous pressure upon the air therein; ageneratorlocated in the air-chamber, and in communication therewith; a gas-supply pipe leading from the generator; water-actuated mechanism for recharging the air-supported chamber with air and the generator with liquid hydrocarbon, supply and exhaust valves controlling the admission and exhaust of the power-water to and from said water-actuated mechanism, and connections for actuating said valves alternately in opposite directions from the air-supported chamber.

5. A carbureting apparatus, comprising one or more water-tanks; a generator partially submerged in the Water of one of said tanks; a reciprocating air-chamber open at bottom and covering said generator, with its lower edges sealed by the waterin said tank; a primary gravity-actuated air-chamber for recharging said first-mentioned air-chamber with air; a hydraulic lifting-jack for raising said primary chamber; a pump operated by the power liquid of said lifting-jack, to recharge the generator with hydrocarbon; and means for controlling the inlet andexhaust of said jack from one of the air-chambers.

6. A carbureting apparatus, comprising one or more water-tanks, reciprocating air-chambers, open at bottom with their lower edges sealed in the Water of the tank or tanks; a valved air-passage communicating between the chambers; a valve for admitting air to one of the chambers; means for reciprocating said chamber to supply the other chamber with air, and connections for controlling its movement in both directions from said other chamber; a generator in communication with the last-mentioned chamber, a gassupply pipe leading from said generator; a supply-tank for carburetingliquid; and means controlled by one of the air-chambers for intermittently charging the generator from the supply-tank.

7. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a reciprocating air supported and actuated chamber, arranged to exert a continuous downward pressure upon the air therein; a generator located in said chamber and in con nection therewith; a gas-supply pipe leading from said generator; areciprocating air-forcing chamber provided with a valved inlet and valved pipe connections with the air supported chamber, and means for automatically controlling the movement of the air-forcing chamber in both directions from the air-supported chamber.

8. A carbureting apparatus, comprising one orlmore water-tanks; reciprocating airchambers open at the bottom and having their lower edges sealed in the water of said tank or tanks; a valved air-passage communicating between the chambers; a valve for admitting air to one of the chambers; means for reciprocating said chamber and connections for controlling its movement from the other of said chambers; a generator in communication with said last-mentioned chamher and adapted to receive air therefrom; a gas-supply pipe connected with the generator; a supply-tank; a pump controlled by one of said air-chambers for charging the generator from the supply-tank; and an overflow com municating between the generator and the inlet or suction pipe of said pump.

9. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a reciprocating air supported and actuated chamber arranged to exert a continuous pressure upon the air therein; a generator in communication with said chamber and provided with a gas-supply pipe leading therefrom, a reciprocatory air-forcing chamber provided with a valved inlet, and valved connections with the air-supported chamber, a hydraulic lifting-jack for raising said air-forcing chamber, and means for communicating the downward movement of the air-supported chamber to actuate the valves of said lifting-jack successively in both directions,whereby said jack and air-forcing chamber are actuated to supply the air.

10. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a reciprocating air supported and actuated chamber arranged to exert a continuous pressure upon the air therein; a generator in communication with said chamber and provided with a gas-supply pipe leading therefrom, a reciprocatory air-forcing chamber provided with a valved inlet and valved connections with the air-supported chamber, a hydraulic lifting-jack for raising said air-forcing chamber, a hydraulic pump for recharging the generator with liquid hydrocarbon, arranged to be actuated by the liquid-supply of the lifting-jack, and means for communicating the downward movement of the air-supported chamber to actuate the valves of said liftingjack successively in both directions, whereby said jack and air-forcin g chamber and hydrocarbon-pump are actuated to supply the airsupported chamber with air and the generator with liquid hydrocarbon.

11. A carbureting apparatus, comprising one or more water-tanks aprimary air-chamber open at bottom andhavingits lower edges sealed in the water of one of the tanks; an air-inlet valve for said chamber; a liftingjack adapted to raise said chamber to draw in air from the exterior; a secondary air-chamber open at bottom and sealed in the water of one of the tanks; a valved pipe connection between the air-chambers, said primary air-chamber being heavier than the secondary chamber, and adapted to force its contained air into said secondary chamber; means for controlling the operation of said jack from the secondary air-chamber; a generator in communication with said chamber; a gassupply pipe in communication with the generator; a supply-tank; and means for charging the generator therefrom.

12. A carbureting apparatus, comprising one or more water-tanks; a primary air-chamberopen at bottom and having its lower edges air-chamber of lighter weight, open at bottom and having its lower edges sealed in the water of one of the tanks; a valved pipe connection communicating between the air-chambers connections for operating the inlet and exhaust valves of the jack from the secondary air-chamber and subsequently releasing the same; and means for automatically reversing the position of said valves when said connections are released; together with a generator in communication with said secondary air-chamber; a gas-supply pipe connected with the generator; asupply-tank; and means for charging the generator therefrom.

13. A carbureting apparatus, comprising one or more water-tanks; a primary air-chamber open at bottom and having its lower edges sealed in the water of one of the tanks; an airinlet valve for said chamber; a hydraulic lift ing-jack located below said water tank or tanks, and having a piston-rod projecting upwardly through a tubular opening therein and connected to said air-chamber; inlet and exhaust valves for said lifting-jack a secondary air-chamber of lighter weight open at the bottom and having its lower edges sealed in the water of one of the tanks; avalved pipe connection communicating between the air-chambers; connections for operating the inlet and exhaust valves of the jack from the secondary air-chamber and subsequently releasing the same; and means for automatically re versing the position of said valves when said connections are released; together with a generator in communication with said secondary air-chamber; a gas-supply pipe connected with the generator; a supply tank; and a pump for charging the generator therefrom, operated by the supply-water of the jack.

14. A carbureting apparatus, comprising one or more water-tanks; a primary air-chamber having an opening sealed in the water of one of the tanks; an air-inlet valve for said chamber; a hydraulic lifting-jack for raising said air-chamber; inlet and exhaust valves for said lifting-jack; one or more valve-actu ating rods, provided with a spring or springs for holding said valves normally with the inlet closed and exhaust opened; a secondary air-chamber also having its open side sealed in the water of the tank or tanks; a rod depending from said chamber; a valve-actuating lever loosely coupled to the rod and pivotally secured to the valve stem or stems; and a swinging bracket provided with a shoulder adapted to serve as a temporary fulcrum for said lever; together with a generator in communication with said secondary air-chamber, and a gas-supply pipe leading therefrom to the place or places of use.

15. A carbureting apparatus, comprising one or more water-tanks; aprimary air-chamber having an opening sealed in the water of one of the tanks; an air-inlet valve for said chamber; a hydraulic lifting-jack for raising said air-chamber; inlet and exhaust valves for said lifting-jack; one or more valve-actuating rods, provided with a spring or springs for holding said valves normally with the inlet closed and the exhaust opened; a secondary air-chamber also having its open side sealed in the water of the tank or tanks; a valve-rod depending from said chamber; a valve-actuating lever loosely coupled to the rod and pivotally secured to the valve stem or stems; and a swinging bracket provided with a shoulder adapted to serve as a temporary fulcrum for said lever; and a set-screw regulating the engagement of the lever underneath said shoulder; together with a generator in communication with said secondary air-chamber and a gas-supply pipe leading therefrom to the place or places of use.

16. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a generator; fluid-actuated mechanism for forcing air through the generator; and a pump for charging the generator with liquid hydrocarbon, said pump being in communication with the power-chamber of the air-forcing mechanism, and adapted to be actuated by a portion of the power fluid therefrom.

17. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a generator; fluid-actuated mechanism for forcing air through the generator; and a sealed pump provided with one or more spring-retracted pistons for charging the generator with liquid hydrocarbon, said pump being in communication with the power-chamber of the air-forcing mechanism, and adapted to be actuated by power fluid therefrom.

18. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a generator; a fluid-actuated mechanism for forcing air through the generator; and a sealed pump for charging the generator with liquid hydrocarbon, provided with spring-retracted pistons separated by a connectingrod; said pump being in communication with the power-chamber of the air-forcing mechanism, and adapted to be actuated by power fluid therefrom, and being provided with a waste-pipe intermediate of said pistons.

19. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a generating-chamber having a plurality of small air-inlet openings for the admission of air to the interior of the chamber at points nearits bottom, means for forcing air through said openings, a gas-supply pipe leading from said chamber, a supply-tank for carbureting liquid, a pump for recharging the generator from the supply-tank, and an overflow leading from the generator and communicating with the pump-supply, substantially for the purpose set forth.

20. A carbureting apparatus, comprising a generating-chamber, having a plurality of small air-inlet openings for the admission of air to the interior of the chamber, means for forcing air through said openings, a gas-supply pipe leading from said chamber, a source of hydrocarbon-supply for said chamber, and means for limiting the supply of hydrocarbon in the chamber, whereby the same is maintained at a uniform shallow depth, sufficient to cover the mouths of the air-inlet openings,

substantially for the purpose set forth.

21. In a carbureting apparatus, the combination with a generator and supply-tank therefor and means for supplying the generator with air under pressure; of apump-cylinder provided with valved suction and discharge pipe connections communicating with the supply-tank and generator respectively; one or more pistons loose Within said cylinder; a spring for driving the pistons in one direction; and means for admitting liquid under pressure to temporarily drive the pistons in the other direction, whereby the liquid is alternately drawn into the pump-cylinder from the supply-tank and discharged there- 'from into the generator.

22. In a carbureting apparatus, the combination with a generator and supply tank therefor; of a pump-cylinder provided with valved suction and discharge pipe connections communicating with the supply-tank and generator respectively; one or more pistons loose within said cylinder; a spring for driving the pistons in one direction; and means for admitting liquid under pressure, to temporarily drive the pistons in the other direction,whereby the liquid is alternately drawn into the pump-cylinder from the supply-tank and discharged therefrom into the generator; together with an overflow-pipe leading from a suitable point in the generator to the suctionpipe of the pump.

23. In a gas apparatus, the combination of one or more water-tanks; primary and secondary air-chambers open at bottom and having their lower edges submerged in the water of said tank or tanks; tubular openings leading through the bottom of said water tank or tanks, to the interior of said chambers; rods extending through said openings and connected with said chambers; an air-inlet valve for the primary chamber; a valved air-passage leading from said chamber to the secondary chamber; means for temporarily applying power to the rod of the primary chamber to lift the same; and connections for communicating the motion of the secondary rod to control the power applied to the primary rod.

24:. In a gas apparatus, the combination of one or more water-tanks; primary and secondary air-chambers, open at bottom and having their lower edges submerged in the water of said tank or tanks; tubular openings lead ing through the bottom of said Water tank or tanks to the interior of said chambers; rods extending through said openings and connected with said chambers; an air-inlet valve for the primary chamber; a valved air-passage leading from said chamber to the secondary chamber; means for applying power to the rod of the primary chamber to temporarily lift the same; and connections for communicating the motion of the secondary-chamber rod, to control the power applied to the primary rod; together with a generator in communication with the secondary chamber and adapted to receive air therefrom.

25. In a carbureting apparatus, the combi- I5 nation of a generator; means for forcing air through the same; a tank for containing a supply of liquid hydrocarbon; a pump for charging the generator from the supply-tank and an overflow leading from a point in the generator to a point in the suction-pipe of said pump.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. EGAN.

Witnesses:

LEVERETT 0. WHEELER, LYMAN G. WHEELER. 

